1990 LX

1990_LX · Jan 2, 2009

I got a 1990 LX automatic for $500 for my first car. The car has a little over 90xxx miles on it but the exterior needs work. I wanted to get some opinions if it's worth it to replace what needs to be fixed(one quarter, both fenders, the headlight panel, and front bumper), swap a 5.0 and t-5 in it and call it done, or would it be better to just leave it how it is and try to find a GT or LX 5.0? The way I look at it when all is said and done I think I will have spent about the same but what do you guys think? Any input is appreciated!

Mustang5L5 · Jan 2, 2009

Do you like the car? How is the interior? Is it a wiring ratsnest?

If you like the car and want to fix it up, go for it, but if it's not that special to you, sell it off and buy a 5.0.

It's really your call here.

lickem · Jan 2, 2009

couldnt agree more, if you dont really like the car then screw it fix a few things and dump it and make a few bucks to turn around and get a 5.0

if you dont really like it then the next thing you know you will be in it 5 grand and you be wondering why you didnt just spend the 5 grand on a better car to begin with

i speak from experience, i had almost 10 grand in a truck that blue booked at 1500 bucks once upon a time.

Strippt88 · Jan 3, 2009

A 5.0 engine swap sounds easy, and looks good on paper, but unless you have a shop, and are ready for the 500 thing that go wrong while you're doing it, I'd drive the 2.3 while you found one the factory built.

1990_LX · Jan 3, 2009

Mustang5L5 said:
Do you like the car? How is the interior? Is it a wiring ratsnest?

If you like the car and want to fix it up, go for it, but if it's not that special to you, sell it off and buy a 5.0.

It's really your call here.

The wiring is perfect, and the interior is absolutely mint (gray and black) I suppose the car is somewhat special to me being my first car in all but I really want a 5.0 lol What kinda parts am I looking at here? so far I'm thinking..
-engine
-wiring harness
-exhaust
-the efi stuff
-motor mounts?
-Annoying little things that will hold the whole project up

Will the stock auto tranny that's in it now work with the 5.0 at least for a little while?

ID89GT · Jan 3, 2009

You'll want to upgrade the brakes too..

Lots of people will say to get a 5.0 car and just start swapping it all over. That would probably be the easiest thing to do.

1990_LX · Jan 3, 2009

ID89GT said:
You'll want to upgrade the brakes too..

Lots of people will say to get a 5.0 car and just start swapping it all over. That would probably be the easiest thing to do.

Yeah, I hear that a lot too..to get one and swap brakes, suspensions and such.

Strippt88 · Jan 3, 2009

1990_LX said:
The wiring is perfect, and the interior is absolutely mint (gray and black) I suppose the car is somewhat special to me being my first car in all but I really want a 5.0 lol What kinda parts am I looking at here? so far I'm thinking..
-engine
-wiring harness
-exhaust
-the efi stuff
-motor mounts?
-Annoying little things that will hold the whole project up

Will the stock auto tranny that's in it now work with the 5.0 at least for a little while?

If you look at the list you made, and what a titanic pain in the ass undoing, then redoing, all that stuff is, and thats its all already in a 5.0, well, hope you have a lot of time and patience. Its kind like a nuclear device exploding- looks small, then mushrooms out of control. I would drive the 4 banger, while you find either a nice 5.0, or dig up a descent 5.0 roller, that needs an interior, and use yours. It'll save you countless hours tracing, then retracing, your own steps, and wondering what you left out when(not if, when) some little piece goes wrong. The springs, sway bars, struts, 8.8 out back, brakes...man, the list goes on. Unless you have a shop, and a ton of time/cash, I wouldn't.

1990_LX · Jan 3, 2009

Strippt88 said:
If you look at the list you made, and what a titanic pain in the ass undoing, then redoing, all that stuff is, and thats its all already in a 5.0, well, hope you have a lot of time and patience. Its kind like a nuclear device exploding- looks small, then mushrooms out of control. I would drive the 4 banger, while you find either a nice 5.0, or dig up a descent 5.0 roller, that needs an interior, and use yours. It'll save you countless hours tracing, then retracing, your own steps, and wondering what you left out when(not if, when) some little piece goes wrong. The springs, sway bars, struts, 8.8 out back, brakes...man, the list goes on. Unless you have a shop, and a ton of time/cash, I wouldn't.

ahah, that is the best description of a 5.0 swap I have ever heard.lol I have an opportunity to get a nice rear end from a guy around me for 150 obo...should I jump on it?

Strippt88 · Jan 3, 2009

1990_LX said:
ahah, that is the best description of a 5.0 swap I have ever heard.lol I have an opportunity to get a nice rear end from a guy around me for 150 obo...should I jump on it?

Buck and a half might be a little high for an 8.8, offer like $85, see where he goes from there. But you have the right idea, shop for, and pick up the parts you'll want in the 5.0 you wind up with. A rear end here, then get it rebuilt the way you want, a trans there, again, built like you want, a piece at a time. If its your first car, just remember to do it in steps, one thing at a time, and then you'll be ready to put them to work. You have the interior, I'd get those drivetrain parts, then set em up, then the car to install them in. Meantime, the 2.3 should be a good driver, unless you'd like an adventure! Thats how I would do it, not biting off too much to start with. I was lucky, they were new when I started with em.

1990_LX · Jan 3, 2009

That's exactly what I was thinking, just slowly buy that parts as opposed to tearing this car apart, selling the motor and then realizing "**** what am I going to drive?"
But I'm going to get a hold of the guy and shoot an offer for the rear end and see how that goes.

Strippt88 · Jan 3, 2009

1990_LX said:
That's exactly what I was thinking, just slowly buy that parts as opposed to tearing this car apart, selling the motor and then realizing "**** what am I going to drive?"
But I'm going to get a hold of the guy and shoot an offer for the rear end and see how that goes.

There ya go, pick up the axle, whatever gear ya wanna go with(3.55, 3.73 good driving gears), have the thing rebuilt by a shop that knows what they're doing, if you want 5 lug axles, have them do that stuff, too. Paint it up nice, new stainless brakelines, and you have the rearend dialed up. Trans the next cheapest thing to build, shop, buy, build. Better than tearing up the car you need, and driving nothing when that goes south. Thats just how I would go, you hafta do it however you want. But I been playing 5.0 guy for twenty years, it'll save you from hating the hobby!

1990_LX · Jan 3, 2009

Strippt88 said:
There ya go, pick up the axle, whatever gear ya wanna go with(3.55, 3.73 good driving gears), have the thing rebuilt by a shop that knows what they're doing, if you want 5 lug axles, have them do that stuff, too. Paint it up nice, new stainless brakelines, and you have the rearend dialed up. Trans the next cheapest thing to build, shop, buy, build. Better than tearing up the car you need, and driving nothing when that goes south. Thats just how I would go, you hafta do it however you want. But I been playing 5.0 guy for twenty years, it'll save you from hating the hobby!

Thanks for the advice man, straight advice without being a smartass but it doesn't look like I'm getting that rear end..I just ordered 10 bumpers on ebay..have any of you guys heard about that whole thing?

lickem · Jan 3, 2009

10 bumpers?? please explain

1990_LX · Jan 3, 2009

lickem said:
10 bumpers?? please explain

lol here check this out..
2Gb BUMPER COVER $14 SHIPPED!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! - DSM Forums: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon Forum: DSMtalk.com

You just have to look through his store and you'll see the maxima and civic bumpers.

lickem · Jan 3, 2009

what the crap?? this place just doesnt realize their mistake of the listing prices or what? are they really honoring the whole thing?

1990_LX · Jan 4, 2009

lickem said:
what the crap?? this place just doesnt realize their mistake of the listing prices or what? are they really honoring the whole thing?

Yeah, we've already gotten our tracking numbers and conformation emails.

1990_LX · Jan 9, 2009

I got a 1989 GT with a black interior for a parts car for $100!! I'm going to do the swap anyways.

1991notchbackLX · Jan 10, 2009

1990_LX said:
I got a 1989 GT with a black interior for a parts car for $100!! I'm going to do the swap anyways.

nice! are you going to swap the black interior over too?

SMOKEDYA · Jan 10, 2009

1990_LX said:
I got a 1989 GT with a black interior for a parts car for $100!! I'm going to do the swap anyways.

well why dont you just look for a 5.0 and trans to drop in this instead of switching crap over? or is the GT beat up bad? peace

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